How do you get from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to Animal Kingdom?
If you are staying at the Yacht Club or planning a future visit, you probably want to know the different ways to get to Animal Kingdom from the resort.
Below I will detail THREE specific ways you can make this journey.
Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Animal Kingdom!
Did you know that Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom? And the best part is that the bus stop is just a short walk outside the main lobby entrance. When you exit the front lobby, turn left and follow the walkway until you arrive at the bus stop.
When you arrive at the bus stop, find a spot to wait until the bus going to Animal Kingdom arrives.
At the bus stop, you will find a screen that shows when the next bus to Animal Kingdom is expected to arrive.
Bus service to Animal Kingdom typically begins 45 minutes before the park opens and ends 1 hour after it closes. Once they start, the buses run continuously throughout the day. I have found that you can typically expect a bus to arrive around every 20 minutes.
Please be aware that once you board the bus at the Yacht Club, the bus will also stop at Disney’s Beach Club to pick up guests before heading to Animal Kingdom. The Beach Club is considered the “sister resort” to the Yacht Club, and they are connected to each other. However, on the way home from the park, the Yacht Club is the first stop.
As you can imagine, since the buses do not cost anything extra, it’s the most popular way to travel. However, at certain times of the day, such as the park opening, you might experience a bit of a line to board the bus. So make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you need to arrive at Animal Kingdom for a reservation or show.
Option #2: Take a rideshare from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom
If you want to get to Animal Kingdom fast, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from the Yacht Club is easy. This option can save a lot of time, especially if you just missed the bus.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside near the Yacht Club front lobby, as there are plenty of spots for them to stop and for you to get in the car.
The driving distance from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to Animal Kingdom is 5.6 miles (9 km), and the drive should take about 15 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic.
TWO rideshare companies operate in Disney World – Uber and Lyft. Between them both, there are a lot of drivers cruising around. Almost every time I’ve used a taxi to go to the parks, I’ve had to wait less than 10 minutes to get picked up.
One neat thing about using Lyft is that they have partnered with Disney World to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans! While using the Lyft app inside the resort, choose Animal Kingdom as your destination. Then order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up.
While this option is fun, as you can see above, it is more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle.
Option #3: Drive yourself to Animal Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom. It’s probably the fastest way to travel since you don’t have to wait for someone to pick you up. 🙂
The distance between these two locations is only 5.6 miles (9 km). The drive takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Animal Kingdom…
As long as you are staying at the Yacht Club, the parking at Animal Kingdom is FREE! Unfortunately, many guests don’t realize (or forget) that if you stay at a Disney World Resort, parking at any of the parks does not cost anything.
Getting FREE parking at the theme parks is an incredible benefit of staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. The Skyliner only goes to two parks, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Can I take the Disney boats from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom?
There is boat transportation at the Yacht Club, but the boat does not travel to Animal Kingdom. You can only take the Friendship Boats At Crescent Lake from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios, Epcot, the Boardwalk, and the Dolphin and Swan Hotels.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at the Yacht Club, nor does the monorail travel to Animal Kingdom. If you want access to this transportation option from your hotel, you must stay at the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Polynesian Village Resort.
Can I walk from Disney’s Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Animal Kingdom is fairly long, at around 5.6 miles (9 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must either take the bus, a taxi or drive yourself!
What is your favorite way to travel from the Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom?
Leave a COMMENT below!
